>> this is "bbc world news." funding for this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. and union bank. >> at union bank, our relationship managers work hard to know your business, offering specialized solutions and capital to help you meet your growth objectives.

we offer expertise and tailored solutions for small businesses and major corporations. what can we do for you? >> and now, "bbc world news." memo hello, you are watching gmt on "bbc world news." i am george alla gaia -- the argument about what the target was carries on in syria. israelis are lining up to receive gas masks as fears of retaliation rise. the french government says its intervention in mali is a success after the rebels are driven out of their last stronghold. as beijing worse -- experiences

the worst pollution in years, we will be reporting from china's capital of coal. how do you feel growth without wrecking the environment? >> increasingly, it is coming at a huge cost. >> also in the program, we look at what is happening in the world of business. yet another strike in greece. >> the greek tragedy continues as the country comes to a standstill in a massive strike just days after the greek finance minister tells us things are looking good. this is the last year of recession, he said. the problem is that nobody seems to have told that to the millions of greek's on the ground -- greeks on the ground. it is midday in london, 2 p.m.

in damascus, where syria has accused israel of carrying out an airstrike in its territory. there has been a reaction from bashar al-assad's allies in moscow. the foreign ministry there has condemn the attack. there is mounting concern about the react -- retaliation in israel itself. there are competing accounts of exactly what the targets were. it is thought that israel was trying to prevent the transfer of weapons to hezbollah militants in the area. >> israel has refused to comment on the reported out -- airstrikes. it always does. syrian state tv carried a military statement. the jets came in flying so low they could not be seen by radar.

it gave details of what it said happened. syria's official version is that the jets struck a defense research installation northwest of damascus, destroying the building and killing two workers. but earlier reports from diplomats, security officials, and syrian rebels said there was an attack, but the target was a convoy of arms destined for hezbollah militants across the border in lebanon. lebanon it has confirmed intensive israeli over strikes in recent days, but officials insist that no attack took place in their territory. israel has only intervene once before, in november, shelling a target in the golan heights. just a few days before the airstrike into syria, israel moved some of its missile defense batteries to the north.

it has reflected rising concern that if the syrian regime is collapsing, they could transfer missiles and even chemical weapons to its hezbollah allies in lebanon. >> syria is disintegrating. nobody knows what will happen next. they have a huge mass of unconventional weapons. it is happening right on our borders. we are taking action on a daily basis to reduce the immediate threat and increase our ability to win future wars when the app and. -- when they happen. >> the rising tension has prompted many israelis to equip themselves with gas masks just in case. if the regime's grip is slipping, the fear is that anything could happen. bbc news, beirut. >> let's join our correspondent

in jerusalem. as we heard in that report, there is still plenty of argument about exactly what the target was inside syria. >> in deed. don't expect any confirmation or denial of what happened, as is israel's habit or policy never to comment. of course, the intelligence from lebanon, from the united states suggest there was an israeli airstrike. most of the perceived wisdom is that it was on an arms convoy, perhaps that was leaving syria bound for lebanon, perhaps of antiaircraft missiles that would have gone into has by law's -- into hezbollah's hands. align that this was a military recess facility that was hit -- the line that this was a military research facility that was hit is only coming from the syrian government. this is a calculated risk for

israel. israel has said previously it would not intervene in syria's crisis unless it felt there was a danger that the chemical and conventional weapons might be falling into the wrong hands. therefore, israel feels that, in those circumstances, it could intervene. >> israel taking a calculated risk. what do you make of this -- i'm not sure if you have seen this. the iranian deputy foreign minister said about this strike there will be serious consequences. those were his words. >> that highlights the problem for israel. there are plenty of israel's enemies in the region who would like to implicate israel and other countries in the whole syrian crisis to muddy the waters. that is one reason why israel, if it has taken military action, would have done so reluctantly. few would hope there would be a military response from syria. this is to be expected. israel wants to try and avoid

getting into -- dragged into syria's conflict. if this has happened, israel might find itself reluctantly drawn into the conflict itself. >> as we saw in those pictures in the report, people inside israel are clearly worried. all those people queuing up for gas masks. >> indeed. 2006, with lebanon, when the missiles from has bala landed -- from has bala landed, there was a panic -- from has bala -- from has the law -- from hezb ollah landed, there was a panic. >> thank you. staying with israel. israeli settlements in the occupied territories violate the rights of palestinians, the report says. the report by three human -- un

human rights experts says they are driving palestinians off the land and subjecting them to discrimination and intimidation on a daily basis. israel does not accept the findings, saying the report will only hamper efforts to find a sustainable solution to the israel-palestine conflict. the french are claiming success in mali after taking the town of kidal, the last main stronghold of islamist rebels. the french acted unilaterally when they sent in their forces. now they are backing the idea of sending un peacekeepers to maintain stability. there are fears that the islamists are merely biding their time until foreign troops leave. >> for the french military intervention, it has been nearly three weeks of rapid advances as they have sought to turn the tide -- they have sought to turn the tide of the rebels.

this may have been the easy bit of the operation. this is the town of kidal. it was the islamists last urban stronghold. the french forces have taken control. >> the french troops are established at kidal airport, which was taken little more than a day ago. conditions are such that it will take a bit more time for other forces to arrive. in any case, french forces are at kidal and are in control of the airport. since the french military hospital rival, the, nation of airstrikes -- the combination of airstrikes and ground forces has retaken the towns, most symbolically, timbuktu. it is thought the islamist rebels have slipped away to hiding places in the deserts and mountains, possibly to regroup.

the french presence may have stabilized timbuktu and the other cities and towns, but the french are anxious to quickly hand over to african peacekeepers and have welcomed the reunion talk of a possible -- the renewed talk of a possible united nations force. >> it would be extremely positive. i want this initiative to be carried through. them as well as its military move, -- >> as well as his military moves -- it's military moves -- as well as its military moves, it is also pushing for talks. >> iran says it is starting to speed up its and richmond of uranium. enriched uranium can fuel nuclear power plants -- its e nrichment of uranium.

enriched uranium can fuel nuclear power plants. it can also power bombs. two people who provided vaccines in afghanistan have been killed in pakistan have been killed. it is the number of attacks in the past month to 12. gabrielle giffords has called for action to stop gun violence, speaking at the first senate hearing to happen since the massacre last month in which 20 children and six adults were killed. she says congress must act and, in her words, be bold. we are here to catch up on me business -- on the business.

earlier, the mood around greece was good. here we are talking about a strike. >> we had the greek finance minister saying that -- only a couple of days ago, things are looking good. this is the last year of recession. yet today, we are seeing tens of thousands of transport workers -- cities left without buses, trams, trains. the message is not really getting through. let me explain more. as george mentioned, there is some growing optimism that greece will remain in the euro. the greek stock market has soared over the last year from a little -- from a very low base. transport workers are staging another 24-hour stoppage today. a doctor strike has left hospitals functioning with emergency staff.

this comes after the greek finance minister told us that the bbc that he was expressing optimism about the growth outlook. our correspondent tells us why these workers are striking. >> the humanitarian catastrophe that has unfolded here in the last few years is very real. does bear in mind the figures -- just bear in mind the figures. it is staggeringly high unemployment. you have hospitals running out of medicine. schools are running out of textbooks. you have kids who are now having to have food vouchers in schools because their parents cannot afford to feed them. homelessness and poverty are soaring. that is the real cost of greece 's financial crisis, and it is very dramatic inedeed. >> let's move on. some of you think it's too early in the day. it's got to be 6:00 p.m. somewhere. today, half-year results said

operating profits were up nine percent -- 9%, $3.2 billion. we are talking about the maker of the likes of smirnov vodka, guinness, johnnie walker whis key. there was a major downturn in whiskey sales in south -- in the south of europe. total sales were down 2%. we asked the company boss how he tries to make his business recession proof. it is not recession proof. if you look at -- >> it is not

recession proof. if you look at southern europe, if people do not have money in their pockets, they cannot buy our products. what is clear about our business is we have geographic ever city and price point adversity -- geographic diversity and price point adversity.-- diversity. >> stay with us. we have a story coming up about when jabal -- when jia bao -- wen jiabao. tighter inspections of night clubs, cinemas, and theaters have been required -- have been announced in brazil after the fire in which more than 230 people died.

>> this 14-year-old follows the coffin of her mother, the latest victim of the nightclub fire. her mother was an army doc or -- doctor and was buried with military honors. the disaster has shocked brazil, and there is anger about the safety failings of the case -- kiss nightclub. everybody has said the same thing -- >> everybody has said the same thing. the fire started above the box where the pyrotechnics were located. >> there was no sprinkler system. only one fire extinguisher that was out of order. but the country's deputy sports minister insists there is no systemic problem with safety in the country, unveiling the poster for next year's world

cup. he says brazil is being unfairly singled out by its critics. visiting football fans have nothing to worry about. >> similar tragedies have happened in france. in the united states, in japan, in russia, and china. why does nobody asked these countries if they are ready to host the world cup or olympic games? >> one of the owners of the nightclub has blamed the whole country for the tragedy, saying he trusted engineers and other experts. they want to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again. >> i am george alagiah. russia has concerns about an

israeli airstrike on syria. the french defense minister says he backs the idea of spending -- sending a united nations peacekeeping force to mali. now to an astonishing story -- pitting the free press against the sensors, but not in the way you would expect -- censors, but not in the way you would expect. attacks began when the new york times published a story about the wealth accumulated by the family of chinese premier -- china's premier, wen jiabao. >> if you cast your mind back to october, the "new york times" had this story detailing the wealth accumulated by the family of the premier, wen g about -- wen jiabao, putting it over --

wen jiabao, putting it over a large sum. the new york times =-- "new york times" was not alleging any wrongdoing. their computer started coming under attack. they believe the hackers were trying to find the information, the sources for that story. it does not believe they were able to. the "new york times" says it brought in security consultants which said it had all the hallmarks of other chinese attacks. what we have seen is that the chinese side have come out, the chinese government, the defense ministry, calling this irresponsible, saying it is groundless, there is no

evidence this has happened, and that china itself is a victim of hacking. the "new york times" believes this fits a pattern which is a concerted campaign of chinese cyber espionage targeting american companies, american government organizations, ngo's, and media in attempts to steal information and control china's image at home and abroad. ever since they published the story in october, their own website has been blocked in china as another reprise o -- reprisal against it. >> beijing has been shrouded in thick smog. the air quality has been classified as very unhealthy. much of the pollution comes from the burning of coal. china produces and uses half of the world's supply.

stupid is used to generate electricity -- most of it is used to generate electricity. consumption shot up by almost 10% in a year. this place has been called china's most polluted town. it is a dirty, grimy business -- >> it is a dirty, grimy business. consumption has tripled in little over a decade. with demand still rising, there is little time to waste in china's coal capital. it falls on the shoulders of these men to keep china's economic engine on track. in norma's, coal-fired power plants dominate the skyline ,ere -- in norma's -- enormous

coal-fired power plants dominate the skyline here. the coal trucks are filling up every minute. it will be burned to produce electricity. increasingly, it is coming at a huge cost. china burns almost as much coal as the rest of the world combined. the cities are choking on hazardous smoke. many in beijing say this winter's pollution has been the worst they can remember. >> we have to change our ways. the pollution caused by coal is simply to -- too severe. if nothing happens, then the public outcry will keep growing. >> what in the shadow of the coal, there are different expectations. farmers here remember a day when --

he tells me if he had the money, he would buy a fridge, even a car. and that is the challenge for china's leaders. economic growth. for now, there is little sign of this ending. >> we all know that david beckham is expected to sign for a french club. the 37-year-old french midfielder is having a medical today to he is expected to begin training with the club in the next fortnight. he has been without a club since la galaxy in december. he had been training with arsenal in london.

he is 37 years old. he is hardly in the prime of his playing career. what is he looking for? >> it is difficult to know. david beckham is 37 years old. he is not used to regular football at the top of the game. you wonder what they are after. undoubtedly, they will be attracted by the beckham brand. he garners attention. psg is a team that is full of international stores -- stars. i think david beckham, who says he wants regular foot all, will be hard pushed -- regular football, will be hard pushed to

get it. apparently, he has turned down all the other offers he has had from around the world in order to go to what is what -- what is one of the glamour clubs of european football at the moment. >> he has been training with arsenal for a few days, a couple of weeks, i think. there any question that he might return to britain? -- was there any question that he might return to britain? >> i think that was going to be highly unlikely. we did get reports that he had offers. it is a long list, russia, china, australia, north africa, the middle east. britain did not seem to figure in that. i think that is because the

premier league is such a for roche's lee fast league these days that david beckham, -- sucha a feriocious -- fero ciously fast league these days. >> i have to stop you there. we have a lot more to come on gmt. >> make sense of international news at bbc.com/news. >> funding for this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. and union bank. >> at union bank, our relationship managers work hard to understand the industry you

operate in, working to nurture new ventures and help provide capital for key strategic decisions. we offer expertise and tailored solutions in